Cup final: #POLWIS 3:2

There will be no repeat of the previous edition of the Polish Cup. After the match played in Warsaw, Polonia reached the quarterfinals, needing extra time to eliminate the White Star after a 3-2 victory.

The White Star players started the match with nine changes in their squad compared to the last league match.

The match began in a quiet manner, with both teams focusing on midfield play rather than dynamic attacks. This changed in the 6th minute, when the White Star took the lead thanks to a goal from center-forward Duarte.

Wisła continued to dominate, and in the 11th minute, they again had a chance to threaten their opponents. This time, Duda attempted a shot, but couldn't beat the Polonia goalkeeper. The Kraków team continued to push forward, with the R22 team repeatedly finding their way to the opponent's penalty area. If not for an offside call, the score would have been 2-0 in the 20th minute, but Duarte's goal was disallowed.

After 20 minutes, Polonia began to press Chichkan's goalkeeper, but to no avail. In the 27th minute, the opponents almost had a chance, but the Wawel goalkeeper rose to the occasion, and the rebound failed to find the back of the net. This wasn't the end of the efforts from the team from the capital, who clearly got going and dominated the game towards the end of the first half. The home team's efforts were in vain, as Duarte scored again in the 39th minute. What a goal it was! The score remained unchanged for the remainder of the half, and Wisła went to the locker room with a two-goal lead.

Role reversal

Polonia entered the second half energized by the desire to make up for lost time and pushed forward more boldly than in the first 45 minutes. Their attacks paid off in the 56th minute, when Ilkay Durmuş scored a consolation goal. Seconds later, it was 2-2 when the same player repeated the feat and found a way to beat Anton Chichkan.

The goal deficit forced Wisła's coaching staff to make changes. Carbó, Kiss, and Zwoliński came on in place of Gogół, Alfaro, and Duda. The game remained unchanged, with the goal-driven team from the capital still dominating. No further goals were scored in regulation time, sending the game to overtime.

Deadly overtime

Wisła entered extra time full of determination, but without a goal. Just before the end of the first period, the R22 team won a free kick, which was handled by a Warsaw player. The referee, to be sure, ran to the VAR and pointed to the penalty spot. Unfortunately, Angel Rodado missed the opportunity, and the score remained tied.

The second period of extra time was a closely contested one, with numerous fouls and referee interventions. After a free kick for Polonia, Bartłomiej Poczobut headed the ball into Wisła's goal, and Polonia edged closer to advancing to the next round.

This didn't mean the end of the excitement, as a frantic Wisła team desperately tried to equalize. Time was running out, and clear-cut chances were scarce… The Kraków side's players were in a state of chaos, preventing them from forming coherent attacks. The visitors had another chance in stoppage time, but the referee called an end to the game moments later.

• 0:1 Duarte 6'
• 0:2 Duarte 39'
• 1:2 Durmuş 55'
• 2:2 Durmuş 56'
• 3:2 Poczobut 109'

Polonia Warsaw: Kuchta - Terpiłowski, Grudniewski, Kołodziejski, Olszewski (106 Hoxhallari) - Poczobut - Predenkiewicz (79' Vega), Azumendi (90 Wojciechowski), Bajdur (64 Koton), Durmuş - Kobusiński (46' Zjawiński)

Wisła Kraków: Cziczkan - Szot, Łasicki, Kutwa, Kiakos (69' Mikulec) - Duda (59' Carbo), Igbekeme - Gogół (59' Zwoliński), Sukiennicki (94' Rodado), Alfaro (59' Kiss) - Duarte

Judged by: Marcin Szczerbowicz (Olsztyn)

Yellow cards: Kołodziejski, Koton, Olszewski, Poczobut, Kuchta - Łasicki, Mikulec, Igbekeme